Looking for the best horse camping near Fort Loudon? Finding a place to stay in Pennsylvania while traveling with your horse has never been easier. The Dyrt can help you find the perfect equestrian sites that are scenic and easy to access.
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads.
$10 / night
Located just 3 miles West of the center of town, our Gettysburg Campground is bordered by beautiful Marsh Creek, with both shady or sunny RV sites, and a primitive tent area along the creek. We offer 260 sites, accommodating everything from a tent to literally any size RV. Gettysburg Campground is also the only campground in Gettysburg with an on-site RV repair facility. We also have rustic cabins and full-facility cottages
Welcome to Artillery Ridge Campground! Located upon the very grounds of the Union Artillery Reserve, we are conveniently located within walking distance to Gettysburg Battlefield trails, museums, & monuments. We offer a variety of full hook up RV sites and tent camping. No gear, no problem! Relax in one of our themed cabins. We are also the only campground in Gettysburg, PA with overnight accommodations for horses. Known for our long-standing relationships with camping tourists, families and groups, come see why it’s going to be a great time camping with us!
20 Acre Island in Washington County MD, surrounded by Licking Creek, a stocked Maryland trout stream 🎣 Lease of the Isle allows you to enjoy the wild on your terms. Natural area with some cleared areas for recreation or relaxing. Many types of wildlife including bear, deer, fowl and many other mammal and bird species, not to mention seasonal trout stocking. Enjoy full run of the 20 acres and surrounding creek, respect nature and please leave no trace….bring your horse? Of course 🐴
$100 - $150 / night
Guide
Arrived, quickly showed how to get to our site. We setup without issue and spent 3 nights without anyone bothering us on our tent site. The place was quiet by about 11:10, not sure if it was enforced or happened naturally. The out houses could have been cleaned a bit more regularly as it was a busy long weekend. Overall it was a great experience.
Guide
Spent a weekend at Gettysburg. We camped at Artillery Ridge Campground, which served as an artillery storage/staging area for the Union during the battle. Behind the campsite we stayed at, we learned connected to Stangler Farm, which served as a hospital for the wounded. Literally right outside the entrance of the campgrounds is where the battlefield starts. So close to history. We have been to Gettysburg before, but going with the kids again being older, we all had a greater appreciation of the sacrifice of this 3-day battle. We did Park Ranger tours to learn about the 1st shot and how the war started to stand in the footsteps of General Buford at Senitary Ridge in the cupola overseeing the battlefield. Later in the day we took a horse carriage ride through the battlefields, Picketts Charge and the peach orchard with a private guide to learn every ounce of the battlefield and the major players to learn about the 3 days of fighting that took place to how the civilians of Gettysburg were impacted. The three day battle claimed over 50,000 lives and we toured the town of Gettysburg to learn how the community had to deal with the aftermath of the masses who perished, the smell which went on for over 30 miles and limited resources such as clean water. It's amazing to see how history was so preserved but right across the street from battlefields where so many died stands fast food restaurants, and hotels. A little surreal. Would definitely recommend a ride out to Gettysburg and this campground, which is right next to the battlefields. Clean facilities. If you are into horses, this is the place for you! Though sites are not very private, everyone is very respectful, and you are not on top of each other. Quiet hours are observed, which is nice too. Store has a great variety of souviners, treats, and emergency camping items. You can't get any closer to history than here. Would definitely recommend if you are looking to visit Gettysburg.
Scout
We had a great time visiting the park! We stayed in site 28 which was a walk-in site, this was perfect for us since we wanted to be further away from people and the light from the bathroom/shower facility. The site was not far from our parking spot, maybe a hundred yards but there was a slight hill. There are even more isolated campsites further up the hill.
The park itself is definitely on the smaller side but packs in a lot. Lots of great trails and the beach would be great( close due to bacteria overgrowth) the michaux forest is 30 minutes away and has a lot more outdoor activities.
Will stay here again in the future.
GuideNice pull through site for out 21ft popup. Site was pretty level. Pool , mini golf and live music were great. Also amazing location to the battlefield and all the tourist attractions. My family and I will be coming back again for another stay.
Scout
We loved the swimming and fishing in this park. Awesome Sandy swim beach and roped off area in the water made it great for keeping an eye on the kids while they swam. We had site 59 and are tent campers. This site was on an incline so the cots we brought were pretty miserable to sleep on. This spot was in its own little wooded cubby hole so it gave us a little more privacy but we thought that a lot of these sites were much too close together. We plan to scope out other sites to find a more level and more private option. Overall we really loved the park itself and will be back!
Scout
Took a few days off to see some fall colors and it did not disappoint! I stayed at campsite #18, it has a picnic table and fire ring with tons of chopped wood already there from previous campers. This spot wasn’t far off from one of the roads entering the forest but I never heard any traffic- just turkeys talking and the occasional motorcycle passing through. Easy to access- I drive a Hyundai Elantra. Did not have any problems with lantern flies like the previous comment but I did see (and kill) a few hanging around some trees. Overall, i found it to be a really nice, quiet, and accessible camp experience! Will definitely be back!
ScoutRelates to Teaberry Site Only. The first 3.5 days there were lantern flies actively trying to get into our rig, digging themselves behind the window screens, etc. and then day 4 they were gone. It was traumatic. Still trying to de-louse our rig and possessions so we can leave the area. Other than that is might be a better site for rent camping than an RV. It was a very large gravel lot with 5 sites along one side, pretty well spaced. The campsites were pretty, parking on the edge of the sites in the parking lot felt a lot like just being in a parking lot with a view of trees on one side. Also some traffic from people turning around etc. Wouldn’t want to have Site A.
LegendBooked for 5 nights to have an opportunity to explore the Bedford, PA area. Great access to Flight 93 Memorial, local covered bridges, Fort Bedford Historic Fort, and many other attractions. Loop D was quiet with ample space between sites that provided privacy. Bathhouse was clean and used for showers. Dump and water fill station easy to access on your way in or out. Verizon signal good enough for streaming.
GuideWe chose this campground based on the reviews from another Dyrt member and decided to give it a try. It did not disappoint. This is a smaller SP campground, just one loop and a few sites along a creek. The camp host was knowledgeable and friendly. We stayed in site 42, which was not the greatest layout (electric was on the wrong side of the site for our door and canopy to open to the fire ring), but our time there more than made up for it. The campground was very quiet in the loop (the creek sites tended to be a bit noisier) and the bathrooms were the absolute cleanest bathrooms we’ve seen in a state park. There were some great trails in the area. Our family of six made the trek up the Flat Rock Trail to the overlook. A six mile round trip with a 1200 ft climb. Spectacular views. The park rangers had an owl program on Friday night and ended up calling in several screech owls. Very cool to hear their eerie cries in the woods. There was also a chaplain who came around offering a Sunday morning church service at the amphitheater. All in all, we loved this campground and after making notes of some better laid out sites, we cant wait to return!
GuideWith all the dogs and kids here we were surprised how quiet it was! Our camp neighbors were super friendly. Check in was 0 hassle. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is that the wifi is unusable and the campsites are very tight. We weren’t able to set up the pen for our dogs because there’s no room.
LegendWe love it at Colonel Denning! Very quiet and small campground. We love the dog friendly sites near the water, the kids and pups play all day! We love how large site 15 is and that it is near the trail head. Bathhouse is very nice and clean.
TravelerSome reviewers have confused nearby State Parks with the actual State Forest, resulting in inaccurate information. Despite their proximity, Caledonia and Pine Grove Furnace State Parks are NOT considered State Forest land, and have completely different amenities, availability, and regulations.
Michaux State Forest sites fall in to 4 categories:
1. Designated motorized sites, which require a free online permit and are open April 2 until the 3rd Sunday after Thanksgiving
2. Designated motorized parking lot sites, which require the same free online permit but are open year-round
3. Primitive backpacking sites, open year-round (no permit required, should be at least 1 mi from a trailhead, and only 1 night per site allowed)
4. Primitive Cabins, which are on State Forest land but are managed by and booked through the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.
None of the sites available in Michaux have:
-electric or water hookups. If you used/saw one, you were in a State Park, not Forest.
-drinking water available at sites (some have a creek or springhouse, which must be treated first)
-restrooms (a very small number of sites have outhouses within 1/4 mi or so, but don't count on it)
All designated sites have some sort of fire ring, whether stones or metal.
Some, but not all, designated sites have picnic tables.
Cell service varies greatly. Some sites will have none without a decent drive or hike, while others have 4 bars.
Fires are not permitted at all from March 1 to May 25, and are also banned when fire danger is deemed too high.
Alcohol is permitted, except in picnic areas.
Designated motorized parking lot sites also serve as equestrian sites, and horse camping is allowed here. Teaberry has a few hitching posts and a two step mounting block available.
Pets are allowed as long as they are under control at all times and are not disturbing others. If your dog's recall is anything but perfect, they haven't earned the privilege. Use a leash or long line; remember that if your out-of-control dog gets into a fight with an aggressive but leashed dog, the fault is yours. It's not worth two sets of vet bills.
This is my go-to local place for camping and hiking alike. Michaux sits on the northern terminus of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and though they are scarcely more than foothills here compared to their majesty in more well-known areas like TN, NC, and VA, it is a place of peace and beauty all the same. Like much of the state, it's a young mixed deciduous and coniferous forest, with some open and sparsely wooded prairie/meadow sections.
ScoutThey will pull you in then discard you with no notice
ScoutStayed a month
GuideShawnee State Park is a very large campground (319 campsites with mixed electric and non-electric, some pet friendly, some not) about 10 minutes off highway 76 and 20 minutes from the Flight 93 National Memorial.
My fiancé and I visited on August 21, 2022- a Sunday. We did not have a reservation and utilized the campground’s honor system envelopes to reserve our site. We drove all over the entire campground (which is, again, quite large) and decided that sites 22 and 34 were both well suited for our Sprinter van 144 and not too crowded for our reactive dog.
The park employees were very helpful and accommodating, though we only needed limited assistance with our arrival since we didn’t have a reservation. A campsite list is posted at the entrance that displays the list of available sites for that night.
There is a loop that can accommodate larger RVs but most of those were full- the remaining sites are not necessarily level, and only about 1/4 of them appear to have electricity. Our site, 34, is not an electric site.
The campground appears well maintained, though the $33.50 fee is a little more expensive than we are used to paying. But the price of the site was worth it for us for a safe and quiet place to stop for the night on our way to the Flight 93 Memorial and Pittsburgh.
A note that traffic and highway noise can be heard from the campground but it isn’t incredibly loud- you do get nature sounds that drown out the highway noise at times, as the bugs here are very loud, but if the sound of the highway in the background will bother you, this might not be your ideal campground.
This campground clearly gets very busy during some weekends, so definitely plan a visit during the week if you’re like us and prefer a more private camping experience.
TravelerWalk in sites have picnic table and fire ring. Tent pads are level and smooth. Showers and restrooms are close to sites. Strongly recommend...
ScoutMy brother and I stayed here last fall, I believe site 18. It was a short walk from vehicle to campsite which included a fire ring and picnic table only. Site was off a dirt road that had a fair amount of traffic (bicycles, trucks delivering firewood). Overall it was a nice basic site for getting away. No cell service (verizon) unless you bushwacked up the hill behind camp.
RangerNice campground. Some of the campsites are a little bit too close together with no privacy. Our site/47 was too sunny. No shade, no privacy. But during the week was not too crowded, nice and quiet. The bathrooms were nice and kept clean. We had to ride our bikes or walk to get to the beach, that was more then a mile away or just felt like it was more, because it wasn’t mostly flat and for the kids was hard to ride they’re bikes . But when we got there we were pleased. Large,clean beach with sand , no rocks or aquatic plants in the water. I will do more day trips to the beach in the future.
RangerCampground park was ok. It has some nice features and not so nice features. The bathrooms are not temperature controlled so it is a bit muggy in the bathrooms during the summer. The pool is nice and renovated but also is small. They have a lot of surveillance cameras throughout the park that the front desk monitors. We were in spot 71 with a 41 ft 5th wheel and it took a bit of strategizing to get out. The roads are a little narrow. You bring your trash to the dumpsters. However, you cannot beat the location. It is right next to the National park and 10 mins from downtown. The park also has free mini golf.
GuideWalk in tent site. No amenities, dispersed camping only. Next to a water source that runs well in Spring/Early summer. Midsummer and early Fall can be iffy, so bring a backup. Close to Caledonia State Park if you want showers. They do charge a small fee ($4). This site is right in the middle of a trail, so expect people walking through. All reservations are free, but must go through the PA state park motorized camping website.
TravelerGreat campsite - Site 8, Hairy Springs; long walk from vehicle so pack lightly. Had great water source from boy scouts (easy to fill buckets) and large place to put up tent. 2 different fire rings, no picnic table. Not much hiking available from the site- be careful if walking down the stream as it disappears underground (very cool to hear, babbling brook style) but very easy to get turned around in the thickets... Saw evidence of BEAR near our tent after hiking - but stayed the 2nd night with no incident. (Yelling "HEY BEAR" every couple minutes.. haha - scary!) Beautiful night sky!
TravelerNice campground Need more hook up sites
TravelerNice campground Need more sites with hook ups
ScoutIdeal location More roads and rocks than grass and trees Spots were easy to pull into Camp store had many offerings Bathrooms were kinda gross
LegendAmazing location surrounded by the national park. The grounds are nice and shaded, and you don’t feel crowded. The only issue is there is a lot of construction at the moment. No pool, no mini golf, and a lot of sites are closed. The good news is they expect all work don’t by the summer and it looks like it’s going to be really nice. A pool, mini golf, pavilion, and premium sites are being constructed.
I also want to say that we lost water one morning, and by the time I called in they had already fixed it. The customer service here is excellent, some of the best I’ve experienced.
TravelerMy wife and I stayed for two nights at this campground and enjoyed it greatly. We happened to be assigned what I believe was the best of the RV sites, a pull through that had full hook up. We have a 32 foot trailer. The site we were assigned was easily accessed and had a nice view of the campground. However, as we drove through the rest of the RV park area we noted that many of the sites had very awkward back-in approaches that did not provide sufficient area to maneuver a large rig into them. The lake is gorgeous and has a large, sandy beach. Would love to spend more time there to explore the park further. There are numerous tent sites, some with electric, that appear to be large and fairly level.
RangerCampsites were a little close and most are open so no privacy. Near battlefields and Gettysburg museum. Had a stand selling local produce when we stayed. The pool was closed for renovation when we stayed.
Horse camping in Pennsylvania offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and equestrian-friendly amenities, making it a great choice for riders and their horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Fort Loudon, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Fort Loudon, PA is Michaux State Forest with a 4.3-star rating from 21 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Fort Loudon, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Fort Loudon, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
